Man arrested in armed home invasion

Published: Friday, June 21, 2013 at 5:31 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 21, 2013 at 5:31 p.m.

A man charged Thursday with armed home invasion denied committing the crime and said the victim had even helped him out when he was released from jail recently on a different charge.

Members of the Marion County Sheriff's Office Tactical Investigations Unit on Thursday arrested Anthony Alexander Bingham, 22, of Ocala, and charged him in connection with an incident Tuesday in which three men forced their way into a southwest Ocala home and pointed a gun in the face of a teenager. One of the men fired at least two shots at the girl's father.

Deputies said shortly that after 11 p.m. Tuesday, a 15-year-old girl heard the intruders trying to get in through the back door of her home and sent a text to her father. She also called 911.

The girl's father, Ronald Palmer, was nearby and rushed home. When he went inside the home, the suspects fled. As he gave chase one of the men fired shots at him.

During the investigation, Bingham was identified as as one of the men at the residence and the one who pointed the gun in the girl's face. He was brought to the Sheriff's Office for an interview. He denied any involvement.

At the Marion County Jail on Friday, Bingham said he doesn't know who committed the robbery.

He could not explain how he was identified as one of the men at the home.

"I've never been a taker, always a money maker," Bingham said.

Bingham said he knows the family and that Ronald Palmer had given him $100 when he was released from the jail last weekend.

Bingham was arrested June 12 when he fled from detectives and crashed the vehicle he was driving into another car. Inside Bingham's vehicle, officials found a loaded 9mm handgun and a Tech-9 semi-automatic 9mm with 33 rounds in the magazine, a black backpack that contained $275 in cash, 50 grams of marijuana, a digital scale and plastic baggies, according to the arrest report. Bingham was charged with aggravated fleeing with injuries, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. He was released from the jail Saturday.

The victims in Tuesday's robbery declined Friday to comment for this article.

The other two suspects are still at large. Anyone with any information as to their whereabouts can call the Marion County Sheriff's Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, visit www.ocalacrimestopeprs.com or text a tip to 274637 using keyword 368STOP.

<p>A man charged Thursday with armed home invasion denied committing the crime and said the victim had even helped him out when he was released from jail recently on a different charge.</p><p>Members of the Marion County Sheriff's Office Tactical Investigations Unit on Thursday arrested Anthony Alexander Bingham, 22, of Ocala, and charged him in connection with an incident Tuesday in which three men forced their way into a southwest Ocala home and pointed a gun in the face of a teenager. One of the men fired at least two shots at the girl's father.</p><p>Deputies said shortly that after 11 p.m. Tuesday, a 15-year-old girl heard the intruders trying to get in through the back door of her home and sent a text to her father. She also called 911.</p><p>The girl's father, Ronald Palmer, was nearby and rushed home. When he went inside the home, the suspects fled. As he gave chase one of the men fired shots at him.</p><p>During the investigation, Bingham was identified as as one of the men at the residence and the one who pointed the gun in the girl's face. He was brought to the Sheriff's Office for an interview. He denied any involvement.</p><p>At the Marion County Jail on Friday, Bingham said he doesn't know who committed the robbery.</p><p>He could not explain how he was identified as one of the men at the home.</p><p>"I've never been a taker, always a money maker," Bingham said.</p><p>Bingham said he knows the family and that Ronald Palmer had given him $100 when he was released from the jail last weekend.</p><p>Bingham was arrested June 12 when he fled from detectives and crashed the vehicle he was driving into another car. Inside Bingham's vehicle, officials found a loaded 9mm handgun and a Tech-9 semi-automatic 9mm with 33 rounds in the magazine, a black backpack that contained $275 in cash, 50 grams of marijuana, a digital scale and plastic baggies, according to the arrest report. Bingham was charged with aggravated fleeing with injuries, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. He was released from the jail Saturday.</p><p>The victims in Tuesday's robbery declined Friday to comment for this article.</p><p>The other two suspects are still at large. Anyone with any information as to their whereabouts can call the Marion County Sheriff's Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, visit www.ocalacrimestopeprs.com or text a tip to 274637 using keyword 368STOP.</p><p><I>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>